They Took Charge

Appropriately, senior writer Rick Reilly frames his tribute tothe epic 1982 AFC divisional playoff game between the MiamiDolphins and the San Diego Chargers (page 124) aroundplacekicker Rolf Benirschke and tight end Kellen Winslow, thetwo players who heroically led the Chargers to victory that day.While Reilly briefly explains the link between his and Winslow'sfamilies in the story--Rick and his wife, Linda, named theirelder son after the Hall of Famer--he didn't write about hisconnection with the Benirschkes.

Reilly never forgot what he saw on television that day inDenver, where he was a 23-year-old sportswriter for The DenverPost. "I was so inspired by that game," he says, alludingespecially to the 24-year-old Winslow's willing of the Chargersto that memorable triumph in the Orange Bowl. "And I alwaysloved the name Kellen." Winslow, a commentator for Fox Sportsand the commissioner of the Indoor Football League, couldn't behappier that his name has become so popular. He knows of 130kids named after him. "There's no greater honor," he says. "It'sa family name. My father's grandfather was James Kellen Winslow."

Kellen Jr., a 6'5", 210-pound junior at Scripps Ranch High inSan Diego, who was born one year after the Chargers' greatvictory, is following in his father's cleat marks. He playsalmost everywhere on the field--tight end, wide receiver,defensive end, free safety, quarterback, punter and kickoff man."I think his best position is quarterback," says the elderKellen, even though his son is the second-stringer at thatposition. "He could be a bigger Donovan McNabb. But the coacheshear the name Winslow and think tight end."

Since 1982 the Benirschkes have also added to their family. OnNov. 17, 1992, Rolf's wife, Mary, gave birth to their firstchild, Kari, who was 13 weeks premature and weighed just overtwo pounds. Doctors told Rolf and Mary that their daughterprobably would not survive, but 2 1/2 months later, by SuperBowl Sunday of 1993, Kari had made a remarkable recovery and wasable to go home. "I never played in a Super Bowl," Rolf says,"but that Super Bowl Sunday is one that I will never forget."

Two years later the Benirschkes made arrangements to adopt achild in Russia. Rolf flew to Kaliningrad to bring homefour-year-old Erik. When he arrived he was told that he couldtake Erik only if he also took his two-year-old brother, Timmy,who was born with a cleft palate and was a malnourished 17pounds. Unable to contact Mary and under pressure to make adecision, Rolf took a chance and brought both boys home. "Wehave to remember the importance of second chances," says Rolf,who lives in San Diego and sees Winslow at Chargers alumnievents and games. "I look at that Miami game as a metaphor formy life. I got a second chance to kick that field goal inovertime. Most kickers don't."

Like the Benirschkes, the Reillys have adopted a child. Theirdaughter Rae, 10, is from South Korea. "Linda and I believe thatwe should only replace ourselves, but we also wanted more kids,"says Rick. "We had two boys [Kellen, now 14, and Jake, 12], andwe just had to have a girl."

Now Rick has another new baby, one that weighs about two poundsand began appearing in bookstores last week: Slo-Mo: My UntoldStory. It's his second novel, a jockography set during therookie year of 7'8" NBA phenom Maurice (Slo-Mo) Finsternick.Real-life NBA personalities such as Charles Barkley, PhilJackson, Ahmad Rashad and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf somehow find theirway into the 293 pages. "It was so much fun," Reilly says ofwriting the novel. "You can totally make up quotes. And I got tomake fun of Rashad, which was really a blast."

Bill Colson, Managing Editor

COLOR PHOTO: JOHN W. MCDONOUGH Winslow (left) and Benirschke still glow from that victory 17 years ago.

"We have to remember the importance of second chances," saysBenirschke.